River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-05-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondentl

April 10Th, 1887.
1t would be difficult to tell what is
going on in Washington just now.
Everything and every body seems to
be ia a semi-quiescent state. holding
itself in reserve apparently for the
merry month Of May. which will be
full of interesting events and people
crowded all together. i sides the
big Drill which is to take place in May.
there will be reunions and meetings
and conventions, operas. and circuses,
the Spring races, and indeed some
thing for people of all sorts of tastes
and ages and inclinatiOns and degrees
of culture and refinement to attend
and see or hear.
Last evening General Grants birth
day was celebrated at the MetrOpOl.
itan church, of which his old pastor.
DR.. Newman, is now the pastor. IL
was the IS anniversary of the hero's
birth, anu quite large gathering did
honor to his memory with appropriate
service. The white and cOlored vet
Grams of the city, the woman's Relief
Corps, the Association of Army nurses
and the Butler ZOuaves were all there.
Among the speakers was ex-Post-
master General Creswell, whose theme
WAS Grant the President. whose adj
ministralion he reviewed at some
length. Hon. George G.. Gorham also
spoke at length and took occasion in
the course of some of his remarks
TO stigmatiZe John c. Calhoun as the
Judas IscaTiOL in whose honor the
Cabinet officials had made a trip to
the birthplace of secession. lie satir-
lied the timidity of the North, which.
he said had studied the Constitution
TO see whether il was lawful 10 shoot
back when we are shot at, and deTided
President Buchanan for deciding we
could not. He quoted the remark
once made that buchanan sat in the
White House like bread pOultice,
drawing the rebellion to a head.
This city of bronze and marble stat
ues is 10 have another unveiled on the
twelfth of May. The bronze statue
of Garfield, which has been contribut-
ed by the Society of the Army of the
Cumberland, has arrived, and has been
placed in position, 1t stands upon a
| granite pedestal which has been erect
| ed for it in small circle at the inter
| section OF First street and Maryland
| avenue, and sOuthwesterly from the
| Capitol. The pedestal was authorized
| 10y act of Congress, and $50. 200 was APP.
| prOpriated for it. Near the base OF
| The pedestal three life size symbolical
| figures in bronze rest upon granite
brackets. These represent the three
| types of manhood depicted in Gar
/ ieid's career, viz, the Student, the
| Warrior and the Statesman.
The statue is heroic in size, ten
| feet six inches in height, and weighs
| 5000 pounds. the pedestal is about
eighteen feet in height, giving the
mead of the statue an elevation of
nearly thirty feet. At present it is
concealed from public view by being
swathed in folds of black cambria, and
| looks very comicaI as the drapery
| ,lings closely and the outlines of the
| igure are pauely seen. Yesterday it
| was unveiled while IL was BENZ pho
| tOgTaphed, but 1t will now remain in
It's black robe until it is unveiled amid
imposing ceremonies.
The inscriptions Dl0n the granite
shaft are placed upon three sides,
making new departure in this re.
| spect ia monumental art. They are
Is follows: Southwest face: James A.
| Garfield. lS3l-ISSl. On the south.
east face: Major General, L. 5. v;
Member of Congress; Senator and
President of tie United States OF
America On the North face: Erected
by his Comrades of tn Society of the
Army of the CanIbe land, May l.
1857.
This makes nineteen outdoor me
MORALS TO public men, whose deeds OF
| whose virtues have secured for them
A place in enduring marble or brOnz,
IN the National Capital. There arr
now six bronze equestrian statues
Jackson, Washington, Scott, Green
i Mcpherson and Thomas. There ar,
also six bronze pedestrian statues
Rawlins, Farr4gut, Dupont, Henry
Luther and Garfield. There is on,
bronze seated, Chief Justice Marshall
one bronze group, Lincoln liheratin.
the slaves lcalled EmsncipatiOn); onl
marble group. two marble statues, an,
one marble shaft. which is the highes
IL the world.